Scraper



July 16, 1968 A. c. BLUEMEL 3,392,465

SCRAPER Filed June 4, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 l 1 I 4/0 II 22b F1 g It INVENTOR. ANDREW C. BLU ME 4: F1 a E ATTORNEYS July 16, 1968 A. c. BLUEMEL SCRAPER 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 4, 1965 INVENTOR. ANDREW C. BLUEMEL ATTORNEYS July 16, 1968 A. c. BLUEMEL SCRAPER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 4, 1965 INVENTOR.

ANDREW C. BLUEMEL BY wwi wa ATTORNEY........

United States Patent 3,392,465 SCRAPER Andrew C. Bluemel, 5900 El Camino Drive, Englewood, Colo. 80110 Filed June 4, 1965, Ser. No. 461,295 14 Claims. (Cl. 17226.6)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An essentially boltless scraper bucket and harness assembly, includingarm members having end portions interlocked with recessed bucket portions by pin members preventing loosening of joined portions, a draw block secured by a T-block interfitted against fiat surfaces of opposite ends of said arms with a pin in alined bores of the block and arms resisting separation, each arm shaped for assembly as a right or lefthand member, interchangeable blade members reversible for right or lefthand positions secured at the buckets scraping edge, and means for tilting the bucket from an upright loading position to a reclining haulback position.

This invention relates to scrapers and more particularly to slushing scrapers arranged to be moved by drag lines. Slushing scrapers are commonly used where particulate materials are being handled. They are commonly used in mines, excavations, grading and construction work, etc. Such scrapers are used particularly in mines to move ore from one point to another, and in most instances the slusher has a haul in dragline and haul back dragline which permit the scraper to move back and forth from a muck pile to a point of discharge.

One object of the invention is to provide a scraper of boltless construction which is rugged and the major points of wear are easily controllable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a nose assembly for the harness of a scraper which, is strong, rugged and is easily assembled and disassembled, and which provides with the harness a contoured outline preventing hanging up on any material on the runway of the scraper or on timbers and the like on in-haul as well an back-haul.

Another object of the invention is to provide a scraper which is of boltless construction to facilitate assembly in confined locations.

. Another object of the invention is to provide a nose assembly for the harness of the scraper in which the pulling stresses are applied to the harness in such a manner as to tend to lock the assembly together.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a harness assembly with a scraper bucket in which the arms of the harness are secured in position by a simple locking bar which provides a wear cushion for the harness arms, and the locking bar also provides for wear adjustability.

A still further object of the invention is to provide scraper blades which are interchangeable as to positions to compensate for wear, particularly at the edges of the scraper.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel design for a scraper which lifts and carries a load, has better stability on haul in, and is provided with a wear skid for preventing skidding on the bucket blades on haul back.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention may be readily ascertained by referring to the following description and appended illustrations in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a scraper according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the scraper of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail of the locking arrangement for the harness arms with the bucket of the scraper taken along section line 3-3;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a nose assembly taken along section line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational cross-section of the nose assembly taken along section line 5 5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a modified haul rope hitch for a scraper according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail, in cross-section, of a portion of the scraper bucket edge and a blade;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of a blade for a scraper according to the invention; and

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the blade of FIG. 8.

In the device illustrated a scraper bucket, shown in general by numeral 10, includes an arcuate back 12 terminating in a blade supporting lip 14 at the lower edge and a top edge 16. Sides 18 and 20 are provided on opposite sides of the bucket of the scraper. A pair of identical blades 22a and 22b are mounted on the lip of the bucket; the details of the blades are given below. The blades are mounted on the lip at the forward portion of the bottom of the bucket and extend substantially across and beyond it to provide a digging edge. Various means 19 may be provided for securing the blades in position on the scraper, such as bolts and nuts, tapered pins, split pins and the like. The bucket is provided with a central lug 26 for a haul-back rope for use with a two-drum system. Edge lugs (not shown) near the outer edge of the bucket may be provided for each of two haul-back ropes in a threedrum system, although this design provides stability so that the single haul-back rope is normally all that is needed. A skid 28 provides a wear guide for haul-back. The bucket design is such that pull on the lug 26 rocks the bucket backward off the blades and onto the skid.

A yoke-like harness consisting generally of identical arms 30 and 32 are separately connected to opposite sides of the bucket and they are joined together by means of a nose assembly, shown in general by numeral 33, to which may be attached an in-haul ring 34; the details of the harness are set forth below. The arms are identical to keep manufacture simple and provide interchangeability.

The means for arm attachment to the bucket is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, where the rear end of the arm 30 is provided with a recurved hook 35, recurved from the plane of the arm to provide an offset hook. The hook extends into an opening 37 in the side 18 of the bucket, and a removable locking bar 38 fitting in a recess 39 at the bottom and a recess 40 at the top holds the arm in place when the arm is rotated from a position extending outwardly away from the bucket to a position against the bucket, as shown in FIG. 3. For assembly the arm is moved to a position extending outwardly from the bucket. In this arrangement, the arm is securely locked in position on the bucket when rotated to the position of FIG. 2. Upper 41 and lower 42 locking dogs fit into recesses 41a and 42a, respectively, in the side of the bucket to securely hold the arms from rocking relative to the bucket. The recesses for the dogs on the arm may be formed into the side of the bucket or may be formed by raised portions on the bucket.

The arm is attached to the bucket by placing it at approximately a 50 angle to the bucket side and passing the hook member into the opening 37 into the side of the bucket. The locking bar is then placed in the hook and by rotating the bar in approximately a 50 swing, the arm locks the bar in the recesses and it in turn locks the arm into position on the bucket. As wear occurs on the hook and/or the bar, an oversize locking bar may be used to replace the original bar and thereby take up any slack from the wear. Also, wear on the arm may be easily rebuilt by welding to rebuild the surface and then grinding to size.

The front end of the arms are bent to provide a forwardly directed position 30a on the arm 30 and 32a on the arm 32. A shoulder 31 is formed on the arm 30 and a shoulder 35 is formed on the arm 32 providing a space for a pull block 45. These two portions are held together by means of a nose shoe 33 which securely locks the arms into position on the bucket. The nose assembly, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, includes a T-shaped pull block 45 having a cross member 46, which is arranged to abut against the arms, and a body section 47 having an opening 48 therethrough for the attachment of a rope ring thereto. The arms and the pull block are secured together by means of a nose shoe 50 having a rectangular opening 51 to accommodate the arm ends 30a and 32a and the body 47 of the pull block. A drag guide or slide shoe 53 is provided below the opening 51, and a contoured plate 55 forms the top of the nose shoe to provide means for guiding the scraper around obstacles and prevent the scraper from getting caught on such objects. A flex pin 57 may be used to secure the parts together against movement, but due to the ring and the haul rope the assembly cannot come apart. v

The blades are identical so that they may be interchanged, that is, placed on either side to compensate for wear which occurs to the greatest extent on the outside corner of the blade. After the outside corner wears back and rounded, the blades may be reversed in position to provide an unworn corner. The worn corner then becomes the middle, leaving a central notch in the edge of the combined blades which is not detrimental to operation of the scraper. A blade, only one of which will be described, is shown in detail in FIGS. 7-9, and it includes a planar body 60 slightly sloped from its leading edge 61 to the back 62. A recess 65 is provided in the back to telescope over lip 14 of the bucket. A plurality of openings 66, spaced in pairs equally from each side of the recess, pass through the upper and lower portion of the blade at the recess to provide means for attaching the blade to the bucket lip. The lateral edges are provided with builtup portions 67 and 68 to compensate for the extreme wear on those edges.

An adapter may be provided for the nose shoe as shown in FIG. 6 to provide a cam action against the nose shoe and to provide a different height of the haul rope in relation to the axis through the arms. A nose piece 80 having a bifurcated section 81 is arranged to straddle the body 47 and openings 82 provide means for insertion of a pin 83 through the bifurcated arms of the member 80 through the opening in the body 47. An upper opening 85 provides means for insertion of a pin 86 to hold the haul rope ring 43. The pin 86 is spaced above the pin 83 so that pressure by the haul rope tends to rotate the body 80 around the pin 83providing a cam lock action against the nose assembly 85 to securely hold the parts together. This also provides a different line of draw in relation to the center line through the arms of the harness. The wedging action of the body 80 holds the haul block tightly against the arms and reduces wear due to movement during operation of the device.

The shaping of the bucket includes a lower portion 14x (FIG. 1) extending in a straight plane inwardly from the lip 14 until the straight plane or flat portion merges withcurved portion 12 as shownin FIGS. 1 and 7. The lower end of lip 14 within recess 65 acts as a pivot point as forces are directed against blades 22a or 22b in the digging action. If it becomes desirable to provide a more durable and etficient joint, the portion 60a of body 60 forwardly of recess 65 in the digging action mayextend upwardly along portion 14x to a greater distance than the portion 60b on the opposite side of recess 65 and provide more resistance to rocking movement in the joint. In the digging action, the lower edge 61 of the digging blade and surfaces adjacent thereto represented by arrows A in FIG. 7 comprise an impact area with forces exerted against the blade as indicated by the arrows. Next above is a pressure zone B receiving a build-up of muck material with the forces directed against the blade assuming an upward component as indicated by the arrows at B. The progression of the bucket through the mucking operation causes continued elevation of material toward the top of the bucket in zone C until it is filled.

The geometry of the bucket provides a digging angle of the blade at about 3032 so that the load is rolled in the bucket, up the curved body. The load is lifted out of the muck pile, with the bucket getting under the load to carry it on the haul, rather than continually digging more muck which spills over the top and sides of the bucket. With the present design maximum rope pull is exerted only during the digging and filling of the bucket, a lesser rope pull is needed for hauling the filled basket. With the prior art scrapers, the bucket is holding at all times so that maximum rope pull is exerted from the muck pile to the discharge.

The use of reversible arms and reversible blades drastically reduces the cost of construction as only one pattern is needed for each part, rather than two as in the prior art. Also, it reduces maintenance, and it reduces inventory. The boltless construction aids compensating for wear, and ease of assembly and disassembly in close quarters such as mines and the like. I

While the invention has been illustrated with specific embodments, there is no intent to limit the spirit and scope of the invention to the precise details so set forth except asdefined in the following claims.

, I claim: 7

1. Scraper apparatus comprising bucket means having a pair of side members each having an opening therein; there being a recess in the upper and lower wall of each opening and said recesses opening into the inside of said bucket; a harness arm on each side of said bucket means having a hook portion on one end extending into each said opening and the other end of the harness extending forwardly of said bucket means and curved toward the other arm; a removable bar mounted in each of said recesses and in said hook portion of each said harness arm securing the same in position on said bucket; means securing said forward ends of said harness arm together; and means for attaching said harness arms to a haul rope.

2. Scraper apparatus comprising bucket means having a pair of side members each having an opening therein; there being a recess in the upper and lower wall of each opening and said recesses opening into the inside of said bucket; a harness arm on each side of said bucket means having a hook portion on one end extending into each said opening and the other end of the harness extending forwardly of said bucket means and curved toward the other; a removable bar mounted in each of said recesses and in said hook portion of each said harness arm securing the same in position; a tubular nose piece telescoped over said forward ends of said harness arm securing the same together, and a T-shaped member mounted between said harness arms having a portion extending through said nose piece; and means for attaching said harness arms to a haul rope.

3. Scraper apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said arms are of similar shape andsize so as to be usable for interchangeable mounting in the assembly.

4. Haul rope attachment means for a scraper having bifurcated harness members attached to opposite sides of a scraper bucket intermediate its top and bottom portions and extending forwardly of the scraper comprising body means supported at the forward ends of and extending beyond the harness arms; a member pivotally secured to said body means; and a haul rope attachment means pivotally mounted on said member with its center of rotation spaced from and above the center of pivoting of said member whereby pull on said haul rope attachment means pivots said member and maintains a predetermined loading position of the bucket.

5. Haul rope attachment means for a scraper having a pair of harness arms secured to a bucket and joined together forwardly of the bucket, comprising a tubular member telescoped over the ends of the harness arms; a haulbar mounted between the ends of said arms and extending therebeyond with an opening through the exposed portion; a member having at least one bearing surface contacting said tubular member pivotally mounted on said haul bar; a pin pivotally securing said member on said bar; and haul rope attachment means pivotally mounted on said member at a point locate-d above the pivotal center of said member whereby pull on said rope attachment means pivots said member to bias said bearing surface against said tubular member.

6. Haul rope attachment means for a scraper having a pair of harness arms secured to a bucket and joined together forwardly of the bucket, comprising a tubular member telescoped over the ends of the harness arms; a haul barmounted between'the ends of and bearing on said arms and having a portion extending therebyond with an opening through the exposed portion; a cam member having at least one bearing surface contacting said tubular member pivotally mounted on said haul bar; a pin pivotallysecuring said cam member on said bar; and haul rope attachment means pivotally mounted on said member at a point located above and forwardly of the pivotal center of said member whereby pull on said rope attachment means pivots said member to bias said bearing surface against said tubular member.

7. Scraper apparatus adapted for loading by a drawing movement in one direction and unloading by a haulback movement in an opposite direction, comprising a boltness bucket and harness assembly including a bucket having top, back and lower portions closed at their sides and apertured recessed portions in said sides intermediate the top and lower portions, two arm members having hooked end portions extending through the apertures and interfitting with said recessed portions, a pin secured in the recessed portions of each side and within the hook of each arm for locking the interfitted arm against separation from one said side, the opposite ends of said arms terminating in fiat portions in facing parallel and spaced arrangement and outwardly extending fiat portions rear wardly of the flat terminal portions, a T-shaped block having an elongated shank portion fitted between the facing portions of said arms and a head bearing against the flat outwardly extending portions, a pin in wedging engagement with alined bores of the shank and facing portions resisting separation of the block, and arm ends, means for attachment of a pull line at the forward end of said shank arranged for maintaining the bucket in an upright position while drawn by the pull line in a loading movement, and means on the back of said bucket for attachment of a haulback line arranged for tilting the bucket to a reclining position during the haulback movement.

8. Scraper apparatus adapted for loading by a drawing movement in one direction and unloading by a haulback movement in an opposite direction, comprising a boltless bucket and harness assembly including a bucket having top, back and lowerportions closed at their sides and apertured recessed portions in said sides intermediate the top and lower portions, two arm members having hooked end portions extending through the apertures and interfitting with said recessed portions, a pin secured in the recessed portions of each side and within the hook of each arm for locking the interfitted arm against separation from one said side, the opposite ends of said arms terminating in flat portions in facing parallel and spaced arrangement and outwardly extending flat portions rearwardly of the flat terminal portions, a T-shaped block having an elongated shank portion fitted between the facing portions of said arms and a head bearing against the flat outwardly extending portions, a pin in wedging engagement with alined bores of the shank and facing portions' resisting separation of the block and arm ends, a pair of blades of corresponding size and shape secured on the forward surface of the lower portion of said bucket, means for attachment of a pull line at the forward end of said shank arranged for maintaining the bucket in an upright position while drawn by the pull line in a loading movement, and means on the back of said bucket for attachment of a haulback line arranged for tilting the bucket to a reclining position during the haulback movement.

9. Scraper apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which the two arm members are of corresponding size and shape and are adapted for interchangeable mounting in the assembly.

10 A nose assembly for the harness arms of a scraper in which the forward ends of said harness arms are substantially parallel and in proximity to each other, a shoulder portion of said harness arms adjacent said substantially parallel ends being substantially perpendicular thereto, a body having an opening therethrough with the parallel ends of said arms extending into said opening, a T-shaped member having a shank and cross bar mounted in said body with its cross bar bearing against said shoulder portion, the shank of said T-shaped member being of uniform thickness throughout its lengthwise extent and extending through said body in contact with contiguous surfaces of the parallel ends of the arms, a slide guard depending downwardly from said body, and means on the forward end of said shank for attachment to a haul rope.

11. A nose assembly for the harness arms of a scraper in which the forward ends of said harness arms are substantially parallel and in proximity to each other, a shoulder portion of said harness arms adjacent said substantially parallel ends being substantially perpendicular thereto, a body having an opening therethrough with the parallel ends of said arms extending into said opening, a T-shaped member having a shank and cross bar mounted in said body with its cross bar bearing against said shoulder portion, the shank of said T-shaped member being of uniform thickness throughout its lengthwise extent and extending through said body in contact with contiguous surfaces of the parallel ends of the arms, a slide guard depending downwardly from said body, a front to rear flared member mounted on top of said body, and means on the forward end of said shank for attachment to a haul rope.

12. A nose assembly according to claim 11, in which said front to rear flared member provides a substantially smooth plan profile of said nose assembly with said arms.

13. A nose assembly for the harness arms of a scraper in which the forward ends of said harness arms are substantially parallel and in proximity to each other, a shoulder portion of said harness arms adjacent said substantially parallel ends being substantially perpendicular thereto, a body having an opening therethrough with the parallel ends of said arms extending into said opening, a T-sha'ped member having a shank and cross bar mounted in said body with its cross bar bearing against said shoulder portion, the shank of said T-shaped member being of uniform thickness throughout its lengthwise extent and extending through said body in contact with contiguous surfaces of the parallel ends of the arms, pin means extending laterally through said body holding said members in place; and means mounted on the forward end of said shank for attachment to a haul rope.

14. A nose assembly according to claim 13 in which said means mounted on the forward end of said shank secures said assembly together.

(References on following page) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Robbins 37-147 Whisler 37l41 Francis 37147 Whisler 37-447 8 2,770,058 11/1956 Thompson 37147 3,028,696 4/1962 Whisler 37-141 3,164,914- 1/1965 Wilson 37-147 5 ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

A. E. KOPECKI, R. CARTER, Assistant Examiners. 

